US2441866A - Device for protecting the ear drum - Google Patents

Device for protecting the ear drum Download PDF

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US2441866A
US2441866A US489596A US48959643A US2441866A US 2441866 A US2441866 A US 2441866A US 489596 A US489596 A US 489596A US 48959643 A US48959643 A US 48959643A US 2441866 A US2441866 A US 2441866A
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plug
ear
canal
wall
sound
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US489596A
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Jacob J Cantor
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F11/00Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F11/06Protective devices for the ears
    • A61F11/08Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F11/00Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F11/06Protective devices for the ears
    • A61F11/14Protective devices for the ears external, e.g. earcaps or earmuffs

Definitions

  • this invention to provide an ear plug which is soft and flexible, to guard against possible injury to-t'he'lini'ngof the auditory canal or other parts, and; which has improveds'ound, absorbing properties.
  • Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a plug incorporating one form of the invention.
  • Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6--6 of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the device as it may be collapsed for placement in the ear;
  • Figure 8 is a front elevation of the device of Figure '7;
  • FIGS 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 5 but showing modified forms of the invention.
  • Figure 11 is an elevation of the device of Figure 10, taken from the left;
  • Figure 12 is a view of a fragment of the improved sound absorbing material, greatly magnilied.
  • plug I2 and the wall of the canal I0 is thus provided so that no air is compressed between the plug I2 and the ear drum II as the plug is inserted.
  • the outer end of the tube I5 is released allowing air to enter the tube l5, so that the wall I! expands, due to its resilience, into intimate contact with the inner surface of the canal II].
  • plug I2 efiectively seals and closes the canal I0.
  • the plug I2 may be used to prevent entry of water into the ears, as for example, of a diver or swimmer.
  • FIG. 1 a portion of a human head adjacent the ear is shown in section, the auditory canal indicated by I6, being closed at its inner end by the ear drum Ii.
  • the outer end of the canal I6 is closed by a plug or closure I2 incorporating the invention.
  • the canal I0 follows a reversely curved path and is of varying cross section. Further, the Walls of the canal are not smooth, but are rendered irregular by various protuberances as indicated by I3.
  • the plug I2 comprises a generally cylindrical tube I6 closed at one end by a wall I6 which is out:- wardly convex to facilitate insertion of the plug in the ear and open at its opposite end.
  • the plug is made of soft resilient material such as rubber and that the portion I! of the wall of the tube I5 which enters the canal is relatively thin.
  • a rubber wall having a thickness of .024" has been found to be satisfactory. This enables the plug I2 to adapt itself to the irregularities of the inner surface of the canal I6 and the plug thereby establishes a circumferential seal with the canal wall over a substantial area along the length of the canal, as will appear from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2.
  • an external projection or flange I8 is provided on the tubelb intermediate its ends.
  • the flange I8 need not be made to extend entirely about the periphery of the tube i5, but may be omitted over a part thereof, as indicated at It. This allows the plug I2 to freely pass the tragus indicated by 2
  • the plug When it is desired to insert the plug I2 in the ear, the plug may be flattened to about the form shown in Figures 7 and 8. This is accomplished by first pinching the closed end between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, forcing most of the air out of the tube I5. The open end of the tube may be then closed in an air tight man- I I, will act upon the air confined between the plug and the ear drum, to produce changes of pressure on the ear drum. It is necessary to prevent such movement of the end wall I6, as otherwise the important purpose. of the plug will not be achieved. Thus, it is necessary particularly to prevent strong blasts of air, such as those caused by concussions, from so moving wall I6 of the plug, as otherwise damage or injury to the ear drum may result.
  • the end wall I6 in one form of the invention, is made stiffer than the tube wall IT.
  • the plug I2 is made entirely of rubber, a satisfactory thickness forthe wall 16 has been found to be about four times-the thickness of the wall I! (see Figure Further, the opposite end of the tube I5 has a large opening for freely admitting air pressure from such blasts to the interior of the plug.
  • a plug 25 is shown including a thin walled tubularmember26 of resilient material with a rounded integral end wall 21 and a limiting flange 28.
  • the end wall 2'1 may be substantially the same thickness as the tube wall, while flange 28 may be thinner than the wall of tube 26.
  • the flange 28 is suiflciently flexible to readily pass the tr'agus and .can extend completely around the plug. A filling of.
  • porous sound absorbent material 30 is placed c ances
  • a porous plug 3! such as, of felt or other suitable material secured in the open end, of the tube 26.
  • ll-he material 39 is resilient to permit the tube 26 a; be compressed for insertion in the ear without impairing the sound absorbent quality of the plug.
  • This form of plug cannot be flattened for such insertion to as great a degree as was the first form described, but can be readily compressed to reduce its cross section rendering insertionin the auditory canal it easy and at the same time provide a passage to permit the air in the canal to escape as the plug is inserted.
  • a plug similar to that just described is provided and is filled with similar sound absorbent material 39.
  • the end wall 3? is perforated as indicated by 38. Since the felt plug 3! is quite porous, air can thus pass through the plug 35 to and from the space in the canal I E]- between the plug 35 and the eardrum i I. Since the other side of the ear drum H is subjected to atmospheric pressure at all times through the nose and Eustachian tube, this plug permits equalization of pressure on opposite sides of the drum ll. Thus, a person using the plug suflers no discomfort due to pressure changes of the atmosphere in which he works.
  • this material must be very effective for the plug to be of any use in guarding the ear against noise. Also, this material must be resilient as previously pointed out, so that the filled plug can adjust itself to the projections and turns of the auditory canal, and can be inserted in the manner set forth. Accordingly, a novel material is provided which will now be described in detail.
  • Sound has the quality of being able to move alon or through solids, and its velocity is decreased by passing through long narrow passages. Further, sound exerts pressure, and hence its energy can be dissipated by causing it to contact suitable materials. Most sound absorbent materials depend for their efiiciency upon the fact that they are perforated by numerous small holes. It has been found that the sound absorbent quality of a material depends on the size and length of such holes.
  • an important ingredient of the sound absorbent material or mixture :30 is a resilient material formed with innumerable pores or holesof minute size.
  • a resilient material may be for example air foam rubber. Since discontinuity is an important feature in a truly sound absorbent material, this ingredient is ground or otherwise broken up into very small particles. Each of these particles may be considered as surrounded by a thin film of air, introducing another medium into the field. Since sound, like light, may be reflected and refracted when passing from one medium to another, the passage of sound through the material involves a large number of reflections and refractions.
  • any solid particle not in direct contact with another such particle will absorb some of the sound energy. Accordingly, it is desirable to add a finely divided heavy substance to the mixture to increase its sound absorbent properties. Such additional material also increases the lack of homogeneity. Such a substance to be suitable must not be toxic, and must not be resonant. Experiment has shown that salts of some of the heavy metals are suitable, barium sulphate apparently having all the desired characteristics. Accordingly, the particles of air foam rubber and the fibres are coated, at least partly, with barium sulphate. Thus, the multitudinous nets or webs are loaded with heavy material which further assists them in dispersing the sound energy.
  • Figure 12 is a copy of an enlarged photograph of a fragment of the sound absorbent mixture 30.
  • the particles of air foam rubber are indicated by 40, a few of the innumerable pores therein being marked 4!.
  • Flecks of the metal salt are indicated by 42 and the fibrous material by 43.
  • This mixture 3% is fed into the plug 25 or plug t5 by gravity, so that any tendency to pack during filling is avoided.
  • the resilience of the material acts to maintain the plug in shape, at the same time it is soft and flexible so as to be readily conformable to the shape and irregularities of the auditory canal, and has no resonant characteristics.
  • FIG. 13 shows a modified form of device for utilizing the sound absorbent mixture.
  • a pair of ear mufis or caps 45 are disposed on the opposite sides of a wearers head and are arranged to cover the ears.
  • Each cap 45 has an inner wall 46 and outer wall 41 which cooperate to define a space $8 which is filled with the sound absorbing mixture 39.
  • Caps 45 are joined by a flexible band 49 which serves to retain them in place.
  • These caps may include ear phones in the manner of telephone and radio operators head sets, if desired.
  • An ear stopper including a tubular portion adapted to be inserted in the ear canal and having a thin resilient wall adapted to conform closely to the surface of said canal; a wall across the inner end of said portion; aprojecting flange on said tubular portion spaced from the inner end thereof, to limit the insertion of said portion in said canal; a body of resilient, sound absorbent material in said portion; which portion with contained absorbent material retains its resilience and ability to conform closely to the ear canal;
  • said stopper and means forming an air passage through said stopper, communicating with the exterior thereof on opposite sides of the canal engaging portion to permit equalization of pressures inside and outside the ear, said means including a restricted opening through the end wall and a passage through said body of material.

Description

a 18, 1943;, J. J. CANTOR 2,441,866
DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE EAR DRUM Filed June 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Shet 1 die-o6 r7. (FAA/r02,
' INVENTOR.
ATTORN EY.
y 1948- J. J. CANTOR DEVICE FOR PROTECTING THE EAR DRUM Filed June 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rifle-o5 z-Z' CA -roe,
INVENTOR.
ATTORN E Y.
seal with the wall of theauditor g canal,
Patented May 18, 1 948 EAIENT Price 2,441,866: Davina ma num-me HE sennnivi Jaceb JGafitur L105- Angeles, Calif. mations-Tune a iaiaseriai No, 489,596
'1 claim; (01. 128-152) I very: painful, due to the entrapment and com- It is another ob ect at this inventionito nrovide an ear plug which functions in an; t mh iovedmanner to exclude water-from: the ears,v, and; hence Whichcanbeused as; an: effective ear stpphle for-- swimmers.
To satisfactorily f-lulfill ei'ther of these obfects, it is necessary that the earglng bein intimate contact with the wall of the auditory canal to, form a tight seal. One difficulty, in prlepar," satisfactory ear plusv isvthe faotthat the uditory canal is not a straight. round tl besbi t f generalv an- 8 pattern directed med lwa d, T us, e m i part a hei analj m@l d forwardly andslightl y. upwards; the intermediate part is directed backwardl'xandztheinternal; part (the longest) slope forwar l and slightlv; downward. Besides these: bend'si the surface;- he externalv Q t n/E o the canal; where aplug; must be placed isi uneven; due to the nroti bere ances marking the position of the: underlying; cartilagcnous and bony structnre of; the rexteins aIidiiLrmY meatus Other factors interf ering withmaintaining an ear plug propersealing; con; tact with the Wallsot the eanal i s the tendell-qyofthe tragus to exert ressure nosteriorlyfon part of the: plug projecting o twa zdly into; the; area of the cavium conchae, Also; the r-act that the ear canal changessits form andsizewith the movement of the mandible; 7
It is thus anotherolo' eot of; this" invention: to; p vi n ear p s i his aneh e Q QQQQmmodatingi itself to the turns and bends of; the canalas Well as -to the projec'tipr s v on the canal l, d; furt er the movem n s f; the wall.
is i l n ther ob ct: f; this nvent n t p o e n ea u w ph: ma en er t Witt-re tial r ofgthe an l w er i i u t et te eg eeenuhi t dwith ear plugs f the rpeii tendeh to; akeatisht i 3 the faot that the normal; auditor can is closed in an air tight manner at itsv er y th 1 tympanic, membran or ear dri rn which is ex! tremely sensitive to changes in pressure. the introduction of an object into the canal which fits the canal in an air tight-manner is pr bh of air'betvveen; the ear drum and theobject' soinserted. It isacoordingly another object of this invention to providean ear plug arranged to prevent entrapment of air between; the plug and} ear drum during insertion o f-the plug.
It is stillanotherobjectof; this invention to provide an ear plug which is soft and flexible, to guard against possible injury to-t'he'lini'ngof the auditory canal or other parts, and; which has improveds'ound, absorbing properties.
It is still another object of'thi's invention; to provide in one modification thereof, an ear plug inwhi'c'hva blast of air resulting froma concu ssipn, explosion or the like, acts to improve the seal'between the plug and theauditory canal-i It is still another objectof' this invention to provide in another modification thereof; an ear plug which Will permit; equalization of; the air pressure on both sides ofthe ear drum, after the plug i s in place:
It; is still another object of; this invention to provide aninlproved sound-t absorbing material.
It is a still. f ur-ther object of this invention to provide a sound'absorbing material which is resilient.
It is a still further object of this inventionto provide a sound; absorbing material formed of cq nmin ited"material-and including means to prevent such material; from packing or forming masse invention, possesses many other advanrages and has other objects which may be made mer ea i peren 'from e ohsid o va e bod men s h nv n n-- r his,
purhnsefthe e ar sh wn a numb ro ff rms in intentio s est d d y t e p end dl m- Be ht em heawin s 7 Fi res is a: su tant a ly v rt ca s ctionthrough the auditory canal, showing an ear plug.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a plug incorporating one form of the invention;
Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 6--6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the device as it may be collapsed for placement in the ear;
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the device of Figure '7;
Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 5 but showing modified forms of the invention;
Figure 11 is an elevation of the device of Figure 10, taken from the left;
Figure 12 is a view of a fragment of the improved sound absorbing material, greatly magnilied; and
4 plug I2 and the wall of the canal I0 is thus provided so that no air is compressed between the plug I2 and the ear drum II as the plug is inserted. After insertion in the ear, the outer end of the tube I5 is released allowing air to enter the tube l5, so that the wall I! expands, due to its resilience, into intimate contact with the inner surface of the canal II]. It will be readily understood that in this condition, plug I2 efiectively seals and closes the canal I0. Obviously, the plug I2 may be used to prevent entry of water into the ears, as for example, of a diver or swimmer.
It will be apparent that when the plug I2 is in the tube [5 toward or away from the ear drum Figure 13 is a View partly in section showing a further modified form of the invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a portion of a human head adjacent the ear is shown in section, the auditory canal indicated by I6, being closed at its inner end by the ear drum Ii. The outer end of the canal I6 is closed by a plug or closure I2 incorporating the invention. As shown in these figures, the canal I0 follows a reversely curved path and is of varying cross section. Further, the Walls of the canal are not smooth, but are rendered irregular by various protuberances as indicated by I3.
Referring to Figures 4 to 8, it will be seen that the plug I2 comprises a generally cylindrical tube I6 closed at one end by a wall I6 which is out:- wardly convex to facilitate insertion of the plug in the ear and open at its opposite end. It is to be understood that the plug is made of soft resilient material such as rubber and that the portion I! of the wall of the tube I5 which enters the canal is relatively thin. For example, a rubber wall having a thickness of .024" has been found to be satisfactory. This enables the plug I2 to adapt itself to the irregularities of the inner surface of the canal I6 and the plug thereby establishes a circumferential seal with the canal wall over a substantial area along the length of the canal, as will appear from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2. Furthermore, this resilience enablesthe plug to maintain such contact regardless of movements of the canal wall or changes in shape of the canal incident to movement of the jaws. To limit movement of the plug I2 into the canal Ill, an external projection or flange I8 is provided on the tubelb intermediate its ends. To permit more satisfactory placement of the ear plug in the canal as well as to prevent exertion of pressure on the external portion of the plug, the flange I8 need not be made to extend entirely about the periphery of the tube i5, but may be omitted over a part thereof, as indicated at It. This allows the plug I2 to freely pass the tragus indicated by 2| in Figures 2 and 3. When it is desired to insert the plug I2 in the ear, the plug may be flattened to about the form shown in Figures 7 and 8. This is accomplished by first pinching the closed end between the thumb and forefinger of one hand, forcing most of the air out of the tube I5. The open end of the tube may be then closed in an air tight man- I I, will act upon the air confined between the plug and the ear drum, to produce changes of pressure on the ear drum. It is necessary to prevent such movement of the end wall I6, as otherwise the important purpose. of the plug will not be achieved. Thus, it is necessary particularly to prevent strong blasts of air, such as those caused by concussions, from so moving wall I6 of the plug, as otherwise damage or injury to the ear drum may result. For this purpose the end wall I6, in one form of the invention, is made stiffer than the tube wall IT. For example, if the plug I2 is made entirely of rubber, a satisfactory thickness forthe wall 16 has been found to be about four times-the thickness of the wall I! (see Figure Further, the opposite end of the tube I5 has a large opening for freely admitting air pressure from such blasts to the interior of the plug.
It is believed that due to the greater yieldability of the wall I! as compared with that of end wall I6, increase of pressure within the plug I2 causes this wall to be expanded to more tightly engage the surface of the canal I0, thereby preventing such pressure from forcing the plu as a unit further into the canal, as well as preventing longitudinal or axial stretching of the wall I! by the pressure acting on the wall I6, so that the wall I6 is not displaced. Further, it is preferred that the open end of the tube I5 be entirely unobstructed so that no barrier is presented upon which the blast mayact to force the plug bodily into the ear. The stiffness of the wall I6 is such that this wall is not deformed by the pressure. Thus, since this end wall I6 is neither deformed nor displaced by momentary increase of air pressure, the ear drum is protected from the effects of concussions or'th like. Due to the large opening into the plug I2, the tendency for such blasts to pass between the wall of the plug and the wall of the canal is greatly reduced; also, the effectiveness of the seal between these walls is improved by theincreased pressure, as just described.
In the event that it is not necessary to guard against concussion, artillery fire and such, but it is only required to protect the ears against industrial noises such as that of riveters or machinery, that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 may be used. In Figure 9, a plug 25 is shown including a thin walled tubularmember26 of resilient material with a rounded integral end wall 21 and a limiting flange 28. However, in this form, the end wall 2'1 may be substantially the same thickness as the tube wall, while flange 28 may be thinner than the wall of tube 26. Thus, the flange 28 is suiflciently flexible to readily pass the tr'agus and .can extend completely around the plug. A filling of.
porous sound absorbent material 30 is placed c ances;
in the member '26, being retained therein by a porous plug 3! such as, of felt or other suitable material secured in the open end, of the tube 26. ll-he material 39 is resilient to permit the tube 26 a; be compressed for insertion in the ear without impairing the sound absorbent quality of the plug. This form of plug cannot be flattened for such insertion to as great a degree as was the first form described, but can be readily compressed to reduce its cross section rendering insertionin the auditory canal it easy and at the same time provide a passage to permit the air in the canal to escape as the plug is inserted.
In Figures and 11, a plug similar to that just described is provided and is filled with similar sound absorbent material 39. In this form of the invention, the end wall 3? is perforated as indicated by 38. Since the felt plug 3! is quite porous, air can thus pass through the plug 35 to and from the space in the canal I E]- between the plug 35 and the eardrum i I. Since the other side of the ear drum H is subjected to atmospheric pressure at all times through the nose and Eustachian tube, this plug permits equalization of pressure on opposite sides of the drum ll. Thus, a person using the plug suflers no discomfort due to pressure changes of the atmosphere in which he works.
Due to the small amount of sound absorbent material 36 which it is possible to use in a plug, this material must be very effective for the plug to be of any use in guarding the ear against noise. Also, this material must be resilient as previously pointed out, so that the filled plug can adjust itself to the projections and turns of the auditory canal, and can be inserted in the manner set forth. Accordingly, a novel material is provided which will now be described in detail.
As is well understood, sound has many of the l,
characteristics of light and energy, in that it can be reflected, refracted and absorbed. Sound has the quality of being able to move alon or through solids, and its velocity is decreased by passing through long narrow passages. Further, sound exerts pressure, and hence its energy can be dissipated by causing it to contact suitable materials. Most sound absorbent materials depend for their efiiciency upon the fact that they are perforated by numerous small holes. It has been found that the sound absorbent quality of a material depends on the size and length of such holes.
In the instant case, an important ingredient of the sound absorbent material or mixture :30 is a resilient material formed with innumerable pores or holesof minute size. Such a material may be for example air foam rubber. Since discontinuity is an important feature in a truly sound absorbent material, this ingredient is ground or otherwise broken up into very small particles. Each of these particles may be considered as surrounded by a thin film of air, introducing another medium into the field. Since sound, like light, may be reflected and refracted when passing from one medium to another, the passage of sound through the material involves a large number of reflections and refractions.
As is well known, when a sound wave strikes a medium of different density from that in which it has been traveling, only a part of the energy or pulse goes on into the new medium, and the remainder is propagated backward through the first medium in the form of a reflected wave in precisely the same way as that in which the original pulse was: propagated forward.
by utilizing amass of. sma1l... ncrous, ir egular particles surrounded and permeated by air, a material is provided whicnlacks homogeneity; this lack of homogeneity results in a dissipation of the energy of the sound waves by repeated reflections from materials. of different density.
To further promote discontinuity and lack of homogeneity of the sound absorbent material, short lengths of fibrous material are introduced into the mixture. These cooperate to form mesh or irregular networks or webs extending through the mixture in all directions and which further dissipate the sound energy. These fibers also assist in preventing the mass from packing. Fibers of the bark of the redwood tree have been found satisfactory for such use, particularly since this material has sound absorbing characteristics of its own.
Since sound has the property of exerting force, any solid particle not in direct contact with another such particle will absorb some of the sound energy. Accordingly, it is desirable to add a finely divided heavy substance to the mixture to increase its sound absorbent properties. Such additional material also increases the lack of homogeneity. Such a substance to be suitable must not be toxic, and must not be resonant. Experiment has shown that salts of some of the heavy metals are suitable, barium sulphate apparently having all the desired characteristics. Accordingly, the particles of air foam rubber and the fibres are coated, at least partly, with barium sulphate. Thus, the multitudinous nets or webs are loaded with heavy material which further assists them in dispersing the sound energy.
Figure 12 is a copy of an enlarged photograph of a fragment of the sound absorbent mixture 30. Therein, the particles of air foam rubber are indicated by 40, a few of the innumerable pores therein being marked 4!. Flecks of the metal salt are indicated by 42 and the fibrous material by 43.
This mixture 3% is fed into the plug 25 or plug t5 by gravity, so that any tendency to pack during filling is avoided. In this way the resilience of the material acts to maintain the plug in shape, at the same time it is soft and flexible so as to be readily conformable to the shape and irregularities of the auditory canal, and has no resonant characteristics.
Figure 13 shows a modified form of device for utilizing the sound absorbent mixture. Therein, a pair of ear mufis or caps 45 are disposed on the opposite sides of a wearers head and are arranged to cover the ears. Each cap 45 has an inner wall 46 and outer wall 41 which cooperate to define a space $8 which is filled with the sound absorbing mixture 39. Caps 45 are joined by a flexible band 49 which serves to retain them in place. These caps may include ear phones in the manner of telephone and radio operators head sets, if desired.
I claim:
An ear stopper including a tubular portion adapted to be inserted in the ear canal and having a thin resilient wall adapted to conform closely to the surface of said canal; a wall across the inner end of said portion; aprojecting flange on said tubular portion spaced from the inner end thereof, to limit the insertion of said portion in said canal; a body of resilient, sound absorbent material in said portion; which portion with contained absorbent material retains its resilience and ability to conform closely to the ear canal;
and means forming an air passage through said stopper, communicating with the exterior thereof on opposite sides of the canal engaging portion to permit equalization of pressures inside and outside the ear, said means including a restricted opening through the end wall and a passage through said body of material.
7 JACOB J. CANTOR.
7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
STATES PATENT Number Number 7 66,949
Name Date King July 29, 1884 Johns Nov. 25, 1890 Baum Feb. 4, 1941 Knudsen June 24, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date K Germany Feb. 4, 1893 Netherlands July 30, 192i
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Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2670737A (en) * 1950-09-11 1954-03-02 Jacob J Cantor Ear protector
US2672863A (en) * 1951-05-29 1954-03-23 Leight Charles Ear plug and sound absorbing material construction
US2785675A (en) * 1951-04-14 1957-03-19 Berkman Boris Ear protecting devices
US2785676A (en) * 1952-08-01 1957-03-19 Berkman Boris Ear protecting device
US2899683A (en) * 1959-08-18 Ear protectors
US3895627A (en) * 1971-07-21 1975-07-22 Howard S Leight Ear protector
US3896801A (en) * 1973-05-29 1975-07-29 Kenneth M Grout Ear plug
US4465159A (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-08-14 Cabot Corporation Nonlinear ear protecting device
US4582053A (en) * 1984-01-06 1986-04-15 Wilson Garnet J E Acoustic ear plug
US4916758A (en) * 1988-07-01 1990-04-17 Jordan Ross Erma Disposable full ear protector for beautician use
WO1991007914A1 (en) * 1989-11-30 1991-06-13 Cabot Safety Corporation Molded foam earplug and method for making same
US5249309A (en) * 1992-09-17 1993-10-05 Bilsom Ab Ear defender
EP0836840A2 (en) 1996-10-21 1998-04-22 Moldex-Metric, Inc. Foam earplug with non-permeable elastomeric coating
US5819745A (en) * 1994-08-16 1998-10-13 House Ear Institute Pressure-regulating ear plug
US20020025055A1 (en) * 2000-06-29 2002-02-28 Stonikas Paul R. Compressible hearing aid
EP1898799A1 (en) * 2005-07-06 2008-03-19 Medizinische Universität Graz Device for and method of delivery and removal of substances in and from a tissue or vessel
USD975279S1 (en) * 2022-01-12 2023-01-10 P&D Gustafson Inventions, LLC Hearing aid insert

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US302738A (en) * 1884-07-29 Ear-guard
US441163A (en) * 1890-11-25 Henry w
US2230738A (en) * 1939-10-27 1941-02-04 Baum Edward Eardrum protector
US2246736A (en) * 1938-08-13 1941-06-24 Vern O Knudsen Ear stopper

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL6312C (en) *
DE66949C (en) * M. WESTHOFF in Braunschweig, Campestr. 26 b silencer
US302738A (en) * 1884-07-29 Ear-guard
US441163A (en) * 1890-11-25 Henry w
US2246736A (en) * 1938-08-13 1941-06-24 Vern O Knudsen Ear stopper
US2230738A (en) * 1939-10-27 1941-02-04 Baum Edward Eardrum protector

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2899683A (en) * 1959-08-18 Ear protectors
US2670737A (en) * 1950-09-11 1954-03-02 Jacob J Cantor Ear protector
US2785675A (en) * 1951-04-14 1957-03-19 Berkman Boris Ear protecting devices
US2672863A (en) * 1951-05-29 1954-03-23 Leight Charles Ear plug and sound absorbing material construction
US2785676A (en) * 1952-08-01 1957-03-19 Berkman Boris Ear protecting device
US3895627A (en) * 1971-07-21 1975-07-22 Howard S Leight Ear protector
US3896801A (en) * 1973-05-29 1975-07-29 Kenneth M Grout Ear plug
US4465159A (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-08-14 Cabot Corporation Nonlinear ear protecting device
US4582053A (en) * 1984-01-06 1986-04-15 Wilson Garnet J E Acoustic ear plug
US4916758A (en) * 1988-07-01 1990-04-17 Jordan Ross Erma Disposable full ear protector for beautician use
WO1991007914A1 (en) * 1989-11-30 1991-06-13 Cabot Safety Corporation Molded foam earplug and method for making same
US5044463A (en) * 1989-11-30 1991-09-03 Cabot Corporation Molded foam earplug and method for making same
US5249309A (en) * 1992-09-17 1993-10-05 Bilsom Ab Ear defender
US5819745A (en) * 1994-08-16 1998-10-13 House Ear Institute Pressure-regulating ear plug
EP0836840A2 (en) 1996-10-21 1998-04-22 Moldex-Metric, Inc. Foam earplug with non-permeable elastomeric coating
US5904143A (en) * 1996-10-21 1999-05-18 Magidson; Mark Foam earplug with non-permeable elastomeric coating
US20020025055A1 (en) * 2000-06-29 2002-02-28 Stonikas Paul R. Compressible hearing aid
US7130437B2 (en) 2000-06-29 2006-10-31 Beltone Electronics Corporation Compressible hearing aid
EP1898799A1 (en) * 2005-07-06 2008-03-19 Medizinische Universität Graz Device for and method of delivery and removal of substances in and from a tissue or vessel
US20080234563A1 (en) * 2005-07-06 2008-09-25 Medizinishe Universitat Graz Device for and Method of Delivery and Removal of Substances in and From a Tissue or Vessel
USD975279S1 (en) * 2022-01-12 2023-01-10 P&D Gustafson Inventions, LLC Hearing aid insert

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